affection

noun af·fec·tion \ ə-ˈfek-shən \

Definition of affection

1 :a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something :tender attachment :fondness

She had a deep affection for her parents.

2 :a moderate feeling or emotion

3 a (1) :a bodily condition

(2) :disease, malady

a pulmonary affection

b :attribute

shape and weight are affections of bodies

4 obsolete :partiality, prejudice

5 :the feeling aspect (as in pleasure) of consciousness

6 a :propensity, disposition

b archaic :affectation 1

7 :the action of affecting :the state of being affected

—

affectionless

play \-ləs\ adjective

See affection defined for English-language learners

Examples of affection in a Sentence

She has deep affection for her parents.
He shows great affection for his grandchildren.
feelings of love and affection
He now looks back on those years with great affection.
She developed a deep affection for that country and its people.

Recent Examples of affection from the Web

Grumpy Old Men Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are two bitter lifelong rivals who engage in ludicrous warfare over the affections of their new Wabasha, Minnesota neighborhood resident (Ann-Margret).

— esquire editors, Esquire, "13 Great Thanksgiving Movies to Watch With Family This Holiday," 16 Aug. 2017
Royals acquire Melky Cabrera from White Sox Melky Cabrera, a veteran outfielder known for his switch-hitting prowess at the plate and on-field displays of affection, is returning to the Royals, Rustin Dodd reports.

— mary kate metivier, kansascity, "Morning Rush: Issues at Kansas prisons alarm lawmakers; Opioid-soaked counties," 31 July 2017
All this time, the orphans’ affection and fierce devotion for each other — and the Home that took them in when no one else could — remain.

— kristina goetz, The Courier-Journal, "Orphans come back to ‘The Home’ that took them in when no one else could," 20 July 2017
At the apex of Abbot Kinney’s affection for beach-chic fashion and the freshest of local produce sits Gjelina, the first of Travis Lett’s growing cadre of Westside restaurants.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
As the Guardian reports, the note includes a quote spoken by Pride and Prejudice character Caroline Bingley, who viewed actual avid bookworm protagonist Elizabeth Bennet as her main rival for the affections of Mr. Darcy.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "New £10 Jane Austen Bill Includes Inspirational Quote About Reading From Character Who Hates Reading," 18 July 2017
Their clear affection for each other is a little less awkward off camera.

— zach schonfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, "'The Big Sick': Kumail Nanjiani and Ray Romano on Playing Future In-Laws and Bombing Live," 14 July 2017
But the island nation has great affection for its fleet.

— The Economist, "A spat about seafood shows the compromises that Brexit will force," 5 July 2017
But Kohl is a perfect example that every dog can be trained if it is treated with love and affection.

— michael katz, idahostatesman, "3-sport star fetches bats and tees, shoots free throws and loves belly rubs," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'affection.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of affection

Middle English, from Anglo-French affection, from Latin affection-, affectio, from afficere — see ²affect

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First Known Use: 14th century

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affection Synonyms

Synonyms

love, attachment, devotedness, devotion, fondness, passion

Antonyms

abomination, hate, hatred, loathing, rancor

Related Words

appetite, fancy, favor, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, taste; craving, crush, desire, infatuation, longing, lust, yearning; ardor, eagerness, enthusiasm, fervor, zeal; appreciation, esteem, estimation, regard, respect; adoration, adulation, deification, idolatry, idolization, worship; allegiance, faithfulness, fealty, fidelity, loyalty, steadfastness

Near Antonyms

allergy, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, disfavor, dislike, enmity, hostility; abhorrence, disgust, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; misanthropy

Synonym Discussion of affection

feeling, emotion, affection, sentiment, passion mean a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation. feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it.

- the feelings that once moved me are gone

emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses.

- the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence

affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

- a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

- her feminist sentiments are well known

passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

- revenge became his ruling passion

AFFECTION Defined for Kids

affection

noun af·fec·tion \ ə-ˈfek-shən \

Definition of affection for Students

:a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something

He shows great affection for his grandchildren.

Medical Dictionary

affection

noun af·fec·tion \ ə-ˈfek-shən \

medical Definition of affection

1 :a moderate feeling or emotion

2 :the feeling aspect (as in pleasure or displeasure) of consciousness

affection

noun

medical Definition of affection

1 :the action of affecting :the state of being affected

2 a :a bodily condition

b :disease, malady

a pulmonary affection

Learn More about affection

See words that rhyme with affection Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for affection Spanish Central: Translation of affection Nglish: Translation of affection for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of affection for Arabic speakers

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affectionless

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Examples of affection in a Sentence

Recent Examples of affection from the Web

Origin and Etymology of affection

affection Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of affection

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AFFECTION Defined for Kids

affection

Definition of affection for Students

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affection

medical Definition of affection

affection

medical Definition of affection

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